Means for reformation of metal wheels



Dec. 19, p CONNER ET AL v MEANS FOR REFORMAI'ION OF METAL WHEELS FiledNov. 19. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l III N Y "lll'il Dec. 19, 1933. p CONNERET AL 1,940,247

MEANS FOR REFORMATION OF METAL WHEELS Filed Nov. 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet2 77 I15 lllllllllll D um-w Patented Dec. 19, 1933 OFFICE MEANS FORREFORMATION F METAL WHEELS Ashby P. Conner and Ralph L. Jasper-son,South Bend, Ind.; St. Jose administrator deceased Application No ph Loanand Trust Co.

I of said Ashby P. Conner,

vember 19, 1931 Serial No. 576,196

Claims.

The invention relates to forms for use in straightening or restoring tonormal condition metal wheels that have become bent or otherwisedistorted; and, in particulanit provides strong 5 metal forms of a size,shape, and contour conforming to the shape of the rims and hub structureof 'wire-spoked wheels and adapted toinsure that the wheel structure isrestored-to proper shape and form during the application of heat,hammering, and /or pressure thereto.

When considered with the description herein, the characteristics of theinvention are apparent from the accompanying drawings, constituting parthereof, wherein are shown forms of the types provided by the invention.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views ofthe drawings, of which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine of a type inwhich the forms may be used;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a rim-form;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a hub-form;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of rim and hub forms in cooperative assembly;

The invention provides annular trued rimforms 9, shaped in plan toconform approximately to the normal configuration of the sides of therims of the types to be 'used upon them.

One example of such forms, adapted to be used in straightening laterallyor axially distorted wheels of one of the commercial types, isillustrated, more particularly, by Figs. 2 and3. The form thus shown isa ring having a comparatively large central opening therethrough,provided so that a wheel hub and spokes may extend freely thereinto andthe rim permitted to rest on the ring unretarded by the hub and spokeswhen one side of the wheel is placed against the form. The ring has aflat lower surface, whereby the form is adapted to lie flat upon the bedof a press, upon a bench, or upon any other suitable base; it hasoutwardly-extending lugs 10 to take any suitable fastenings for holdingit in place; and it has an upwardly-extending continuous outer flange11, an upwardly-extending continuous inner flange 12 of less height, andbetween the flanges a continuous groove 13. The forms are made of strongmetal of a kind that will withstand relatively high heat, and alsopressure and hammering, without distortion, it

thereon.

When a form is used, the rim of a wheel is laid side down on the form ofthe particular size and shape to accommodate that type of wheel. Whennecessary to effect restorationto normal shape, the rimmay be heated,either before or after it is laid on the form, by any suitable means.While the wheel is lying with its rim on a form, or while a separate rimis lying thereon, therim may be straightened by hammering, or by theapplication of pressure thereto in a press or by any other suitablemeans The invention also provides strong undistortionable metalhub-forms 14, as exemplified by Figs. 4, 5, and 6, adapted to be placedcentrally on rim-forms, the hub-forms having outer flanges 15 adapted torest on the inner flange of a rim-form and an annular abutment 16arranged to fit closely into the inner periphery of the rim-forms withwhich it is intended to be used.

When the wire spokes of a wheel and/or its hub have been distorted, whenspokes have become disconnected (as, for example, the spokes A at thehub as shown in Fig. 1), or when, for any other reason, it is desirableto hold a wheel down at the hub and against a rim-form, a hubform, ofthe appropriate size and shape, is laid on a rim-form, also of theappropriate size and shape, the rim is laid on the rim-form, andpressure is applied, by a press or other suitable means, to the hub-cageto bring it down against the hub-form. The spoke-and-hub structure ofthe wheel thus is restored to normal condition or place. 7

While the spoke-and-hub structure is under pressure, and the wheel inits entirety thus is in place in normal form, bent spokes may bestraightened, spokes disconnected at either or both ends may be reweldedor reriveted to the hub and/or rim, and spokes that have been lost orremoved as unsuitable for repair may be replaced by new ones.

The rim-forms may be made, in accordance with the invention, in sets ofthe proper sizes and shapes to accommodate metal-rim wheels of theseveral types and dimensions in general use on vehicles. Similarly, thehub-forms may be made in sets of the sizes and shapes corresponding to anumber of the types of wheels and of the sizes to enable them to seat onthe rim-form corresponding to the entire structure of the wheel to betreated. Moreover, the hub-forms are of such vertical dimensions that,when the proper one for the wheel to be treated is in place on arim-form, the hub-and-spoke structure will be in normal place whenpressed down against the hub-form.

Fig. 1 illustrates a stand B of a type suitable for use in employment ofrim and hub forms of the character provided by the invention, a rim-formbeing shown as resting on top of the stand, a wheel resting on the form,and a screw pressing down against the hub-cage. It is to be understood,however, that Fig. 1 is but illustrative, and that the forms, ashereinbefore explained, may be used advantageously on the bed of apress, on a bench, or on any other base suitable as a support duringhammering, pressing, or other treatment of a wheel.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A set of metal forms for use in reforming metal wheels, said setincluding a rim-form arranged to have the side of the rim of a wheel tobe treated rest thereon, and a removable hubform arranged to rest on therim form and to stop at normal position the hub of a distortedhub-and-spoke structure pressed thereagainst.

2. A metal form, for use in reforming metal wheels, comprising anannular member, arranged to have a wheel-rim rest sidewise thereon, anda removable central member arranged to stop at normal position the hubof a distorted hub-and-spoke structure pressed thereagainst.

3. A set of metal forms, for use in reforming metal wheels, comprising aring arranged to have a wheel-rim rest sidewise thereon, and a separatehub-form having an outwardly-extending flange arranged to rest on top ofsaid ring and an abutment arranged to fit closely into the innerperiphery of the ring whereby to center the two said parts, the hub-formbeing arranged to stop at normal position the hub of a distortedhub-and-spoke structure when its rim rests on said ring and pressure isapplied to the hub.

4. A form for reformation of metal wheels consisting of an integralmetal ring capable of itself withstanding hammering and pressure withoutdistortion and of lying flat upon a base, said ring being shaped on itsupper side to conform to the normal configuration of the side of the rimof a wheel to be laid thereon, and said ring having a comparativelylarge central opening therethrough capable of accommodating an offsethub of the wheel.

5. A form for reformation of metal wheels consisting of an integralmetal ring capable of itself withstanding hammering and pressure withoutdistortion and of lying flat upon a base, said ring having on its upperside an upwardlyextending continuous outer flange, an upwardlyextendinginner flange of less height, and between said flanges a continuousannulargroove arranged to have the side of a wheel-rim rest therein, andsaid ring having also a comparatively large central opening therethroughcapable of accommodating an offset hub of the wheel.

ASHBY P. CONNER. RALPH L. JASPERSON.

